British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole will contest Dubai 24 Hours, the 24H Series season-opener, on 9 January 2015 with European Le Mans Series GTE championship-winners, RAM Racing, in the team's new Mercedes SLS AMG GT3.

Onslow-Cole, who has already tested the V8-machine at Silverstone, flew to Dubai in mid-December to put it through its paces on the 5.3km long Dubai Autodrome, alongside team owner and fellow racing driver Cheerag Arya (IN).

"I've been talking to the team for a while and when Dan [Shufflebottom] put a deal to me for the Dubai 24 Hours, I jumped at the chance," commented Onslow-Cole. "The SLS has a great endurance record and the team's accolades speak for themselves.

"At both the Silverstone and Dubai tests, the car ran faultlessly; it was fast out the box even before we got to work on set-up."

Dubai 24 Hours was the first twice-around-the-clock endurance race that Onslow-Cole contested but now the 27-year old can add Spa 24 Hours and Barcelona 24 Hours to that ever-growing list.

"Dubai 2014 was my first experience of 24-hour racing as a driver," he continues. "I'd been to events before but only as a guest of a team or friend of a driver. I was totally captivated by it. I didn't sleep at all, I just sat on the pit wall absolutely wired. Obviously, I'm much more experienced now and I'm more than happy to make the most of my nap times, but this place will always be special to me. Ultimately, it was the place that got me hooked on endurance racing and swayed me away from my 2014 BTCC deal."

The Dubai International Autodrome has hosted the 24-hour endurance race since 2006. The race sees GT and touring cars battle it out in 12 different classes, with the GT3s aiming for the overall race win.

"The big thing in Dubai is the pure size of the grid and the speed differentials that come with it," explained Onslow-Cole. "With just under 100 cars taking the start, clear laps are going to be luxury."

"I have three great team-mates and a second-to-none pit crew. I've always respected RAM Racing and what they have achieved in such a short space of time. In 24-hour racing I haven't yet seen things run perfectly to plan, what we have to do is catch the curve balls as they're thrown and we'll come away with a result."

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole tasted victory in Hungary this weekend (4th October) when he and his KPM Racing team-mates took the class win in the final round in the 24 Hour Series, the 12 Hours of Hungaroring, in the Milltek Sport VW Golf TDI.

The victory is the second out of four races for the team in the 2014 24 Hours Series and completes a 100 per cent podium-finishing rate, which includes the grueling endurance races Dubai 24 Hours and Barcelona 24 Hours.

Like the 12 Hours of Mugello earlier in the year, the 12 Hours of Hungary went as smoothly as any endurance race could go. The team crossed the line six laps ahead of the second place car and suffered no issues throughout the entire race.

“You only have to look at the car at the end of a 12- or 24-hour race to see that it has been through a lot,” commented Onslow-Cole. “And, that’s just what you see on the outside. To take a standard production car and prepare it to withstand the demands of endurance racing without any failures is real testament to the team. The car is prepared to an exceptional standard and that’s what wins endurance races.

“Once again, the car didn’t miss a beat this weekend. In fact, it’s been fantastic all year.”

The Milltek-Sport VW Golf is a standard production car that has an upgraded Milltek Sport exhaust system and wide tracked racing body. KPM Racing works very closely with Volkswagen and Milltek Sport to prepare the car at its base at Silverstone in the UK.

Onslow-Cole once again raced the 2.0-litre machine alongside regular team-mate Paul White (GB), who is extremely experienced in long-distance racing and, at the other end of the scale, Jade Edwards (GB) who made her 12-hour race debut.

“Both Paul and Jade did a great job this weekend,” adds Onslow-Cole. “Jade made her 12-hour race debut and put in two strong two-hour long stints and Paul, who seemed to be jinxed with rain, did a great job in some challenging mixed weather conditions.”

Despite the heavy rain on the back of the circuit, the team made some good strategic calls to eliminate any unscheduled pitstops and ensure they maintained a good lead. At the end of the 12 hours, the team had not only won the D1 class but finished seventh overall, ahead of several cars from higher classes.

“I genuinely could not be happier,” commented KPM Racing team owner Kevin Poole. “We finished every race we entered and took a podium at each. To take another class win has really finished the season on a high.

“This is a fantastic series and I’m currently talking to teams about running them in the top GT3 class for next year,” Poole continued. “KPM Racing is made up of top professionals who work or have worked in F1 and the WEC and, now we have a very good understanding of the 24H Series events, I'm confident we could run a championship-winning car next year.”

In 2015, event organiser Creventic is hoping the Series will be granted championship status by the FIA. In addition, it will host the 24 Hours of Paul Ricard. The 2015 calendar starts with Dubai 24 Hours in January.

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole and his KPM Racing team-mates will head to Hungary this weekend for the final race in the 24H Series, the 12 Hours of Hungaroring, and they are hoping to complete a 100 per cent podium success rate in the Milltek Sport 2.0-litre Golf TDI.

It has been a successful first year for the team in the 24H Series, which kicked off with a second place class-finish in the 24 Hours of Dubai at the start of the season. A win in the 12 Hours of Mugello in March was then followed by a second place result in Barcelona 24 Hours last month.

"It's tough enough just finishing 100 per cent of the races in this series let alone finishing them all on the podium," comments Onslow-Cole, who will race alongside long-standing team-mate Paul White (GB) and upcoming talent Jade Edwards (GB), who makes her debut with the team this weekend.

"The 12- and 24-hour races are a real test of endurance and even some of the bigger machines struggle," he adds. "But, the way that the Milltek Sport Golf has stood up to everything it has had thrown at it is testament to the car build, the preparation and the guys running it."

The Milltek Sport entry runs in the D1 class for diesel engines smaller than 2.0-litres. The Mk6 Golf has a standard 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine but has been upgraded with a Milltek Sport production exhaust and wide-tracked body.

"It's been a fantastic year for us in the 24H Series and it would be great to finish it off with a final podium," adds Steve Pound, managing director at Milltek Sport. "KPM Racing, that also runs our cars in the Milltek Sport VW Cup, has represented us with the professionalism we would expect in a top European series. We have been seriously impressed."

In 2015 the 24H Series will become a championship, meaning teams will score points to win the overall title rather than contest individual events. This is a huge move for organisers Creventic and one that has been received incredibly well by drivers and teams.

"I've had experience in running cars in the world's top championships including the European Le Mans Series and the World Endurance Championship, and the 24H Series is right up there in the professional way that it is run," comments KPM Racing's team manager Kevin Poole."We've heard rumblings of a lot of new teams showing interest for next year and we certainly hope to be back… maybe running a few cars."

As well as announcing it will become a championship next year, 24H Series will also host the 24 Hours of Paul Ricard, an event that has been highly-anticipated for a number of years.

The 12 Hours of Hungaroring starts at 08:00 local time on Saturday 4 October.

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole heads to the final round of his first Avon Tyres British GT Championship season at Donington Park this weekend (13/14 September) and reflects on his first full year of GT racing.

Already a well-known name in racing, thanks to a successful career in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), Onslow-Cole made the switch to GT racing at the start of this year and has 21 races around the world in his 2014 calendar.

At the centre of his current GT campaign, the 27-year old has teamed up with Paul White (GB) in the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 to contest the British GT Championship, a series that he argues is the toughest national GT competition in the world.

“I have been seriously impressed with the British GT Championship this year,” he commented. “The standard of both the PRO and the AM drivers is so high and the championship is really well run.”

The Strata21 team, run by Aston Martin Racing, has had success this year; taking a podium at Snetterton in June; finishing every race of the season; and scoring points in each of the five rounds in the Aston Martin Vantage GT3.

“The key to winning this championship is consistency,” commented the Milltek Sport and Casio Edifice-sponsored driver. “We’ve not been at the front enough this year as a pair, but we have been consistently inside the top ten and finished every race, and the Vantage GT3 has enabled us to do that. It’s been fast at every circuit and always very reliable.

“Making the move into GTs was a difficult one for me but, having almost completed my first year in British GT, I'm extremely happy that I did. It’s definitely where my future lies and, right now, the future is looking pretty good.”

The final race in the British GT Championship takes place at Donington Park on Sunday 14 September at 12.55 and Onslow-Cole is looking forward to getting back into the Aston Martin.

“Paul did an incredible job at Brands Hatch so we are confident going into Donington. I’m looking forward to the season finale but disappointed that the season is coming to an end. I’m busy looking into options for next year and having some interesting conversations, and I still have a lot of racing in Europe in the next few months,” he concludes.

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole joined KPM Racing this weekend (6/7 September) at Barcelona 24 Hours in the Milltek Sport Mk6 VW Golf and the team maintained its straight run of podiums in the 24 Hour Series finishing in second place in the D1 class.

The race weekend started with qualifying on Friday and Onslow-Cole set the second fastest lap of the first session before handing over to his team-mates Paul White (GB), Javier Morcillo (ES) and James Walker (GB).

In the second of the sessions, night-time qualifying, each driver was required to complete one lap of the 4.65km long circuit. With lightning striking directly onto the track ahead, Onslow-Cole and his co-drivers completed their mandatory laps just before a hailstorm caused the session to be cancelled.

“The hail storm was incredible,” commented Onslow-Cole. “I was on track when the lightning started, it was an impressive sight but I was glad to be out of the car before the hail started.

“I’d have liked to have put our car on pole but, with a 24 hour race, it’s not the main focus so we used the qualifying session to fine tune some of the set-up ahead of the race.”

The race started at midday on Saturday and, as the fastest in qualifying, Onslow-Cole was first behind the wheel of the 2.0-litre Milltek Sport Mk6 Golf. Despite a great start and good speed through the corners, luck was not on the team’s side and on lap five the car was brought back to the garage after a lack of straight line speed caused from a boost pipe clip failure. Fixed and sent back out, Onslow-Cole was in fourth.

At the end of his two-hour stint, the 27-year old handed the car over to team-mate James Walker back in the class lead.

Despite their determination, the boost pipe issue came back to haunt the team several times causing a number of additional pit stops before midnight and costing them the lead. However, the team worked hard to resolve the issue and, in the second half of the race, they had a relatively clear run and were able to close the gap on the leader by 15 laps and take second place.

“It was good to be up on the podium with KPM and Milltek Sport for the third time this season,” continued Casio Edifice-sponsored Onslow-Cole. “They are a great team and the car has run faultlessly all year until the small issues in this race that cost us a lot of time. You’ve never seen a team work so hard and so well together when you bring the car in but they are also a lot of fun to race with.”

The five-round series, set to become a six-race championship in 2015 with the addition of the 24 Hours of Paul Ricard, started with the Dubai 24 Hours in January, where KPM Racing finished second and the 12 Hours of Mugello in March where it took the class win.

“I always enjoy the 24 Hours Series events and this one was no different. It’s fantastic news that it’ll be a championship next year – with three 24-hour races and three 12-hour races it will have to be considered one of the toughest challenges in the world of endurance racing.”

The 2014 series concludes with the 12 Hours of Hungaroring on 3/4 October.

It’s the third 24-hour race of 2014 for Tom Onslow-Cole (GB) this weekend (6/7 September) as the Milltek Sport-sponsored driver will contest the 24 Hours of Barcelona, the penultimate round of the 24 Hour Series.

But, the 27-year old and his Strata21 team-mate Paul White (GB) will be leaving behind the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 similar to the one that they raced in Spa 24 Hours in July, and will once again be jumping in the Volkswagen Golf Mk6 built and owned by premium British exhaust manufacturer Milltek Sport and run by top British racing team KPM Racing.

Onslow-Cole joined the team for the first round of the 24 Hour Series in Dubai at the start of the year and, alongside his team-mates, the 27-year old finished second in class. In the second round, the 12 Hours of Mugello, the team took the top step of the podium and, after missing round three due to calendar clashes, they are aiming to take the class win once again this weekend.

“To be contesting my third high-profile 24 hour race of the year is really exciting,” comments Onslow-Cole. “The Golf may not be as fast as the Aston Martin but the competition here is tough and we have some great on-going rivalries. When you look at the punishment that these cars take during an endurance race like this, it really is testament to the excellent build quality of the car, the preparation in advance and running during the race.”

The Mk6 Golf has a standard 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine but has been upgraded with a Milltek Sport production exhaust and wide-tracked body.

“I completed my first ever 24 hour race in this car, so it’s very special to me. It’s marked the start of a very exciting career change, one that is going better than I could have imagined. I really enjoy these weekends with Milltek Sport and KPM Racing, they are a fantastic team to race with.”

This weekend, Onslow-Cole and White will once again be joined in the car by experienced endurance racer Javier Morcillo (ES) and VW Cup driver and 20xx championship-winner James Walker (GB), who won a season of racing in the Milltek Sport-sponsored championship in a shoot-out held by the exhaust manufacturer and judged by Onslow-Cole.

A week after returning from Barcelona, Onslow-Cole and White will contest the final round of the British GT Championship at Donington Park on 13/14 September.

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole and team-mate Paul White had to settle for seventh place in the penultimate round of the British GT Championship at Brands Hatch this weekend (31 August), despite strong qualifying and racing from both drivers.

The pair qualified in their highest combined position of the year and started from seventh on the grid. White started well and, although dropping a couple of places to avoid a collision in the opening lap, maintained eighth position until handing the Aston Martin V12 Vantage over to Onslow-Cole at the halfway mark.

Exiting the pits behind the AF Corse Ferrari of Matt Griffin, Onslow-Cole began his attack while defending from Alexander Simms in the championship-leading BMW. As two of the front-runners retired, Onslow-Cole was battling for fourth place when a small electrical issue caused the car to cut out, losing the 27-year old two places.

With the niggle persisting until the chequered flag, the pair had to settle for seventh but felt positive that the weekend had marked a significant step in the team’s progression.

“As a driver pairing, we have never worked together better,” commented Onslow-Cole. “Paul and I both qualified well and felt that the Aston Martin was well suited to the Brands Hatch GP circuit.

“It was all going so well until, unfortunately, there was a slight issue with the electrics, which meant that we lost power a few times and lost a few places. We just didn’t have time to make these back.

“Still, the most important thing is that, until the issue, everything was going really well. Paul did a great job all weekend. His qualifying was his best this year and that makes a huge difference in the British GT Championship.

“We have one more round of the Championship remaining and it has been a fantastic year. It’s time now to start looking for opportunities for 2015.”

The final round of the British GT Championship takes place at Donington Park on 14 September.

The British GT Championship action resumes this weekend (30/31 August) and professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole is looking forward to returning to Brands GP, his favourite circuit on the calendar and the place that he and Strata21 team-mate Paul White first raced together in the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3.

The pair has raced together since August 2013 when Milltek Sport-sponsored Onslow-Cole made his GT debut on the Brands Hatch GP circuit. After qualifying on pole and finishing second, they joined forces for the 2014 season and have enjoyed podium success in the British GT Championship.

“I can’t believe we are going into the penultimate round of the British GT Championship,” commented Onslow-Cole. “It’s gone so quickly and I’ve enjoyed every second of it. But, I must admit, I’m glad we are going back to two-hour race format for this weekend – I much prefer the longer races.”

Since the last round of the British GT Championship at Spa-Francorchamps, where the 27-year old recorded the fastest race lap of the weekend, Onslow-Cole has contested the biggest race of his year, Spa 24 Hours, and, at the opposite end of the scale, a charity race with Radio Le Mans and close friend Duncan Tappy.

“I’m looking forward to British GT starting again. I’ve filled the summer break with some great and varied racing but it’s good to get back into the championship. This weekend the competition is really tough but I think the Aston Martin will be strong, it’s the one I’ve been looking forward to all year.”

The Brands Hatch GP round of the British GT Championship takes place on Sunday 31 August at 13:10. Tickets can be bought HERE. The race will be first aired on Sunday 7 September on Channel 4 at 07:00 and on Motors TV at 15:15 and is repeated regularly thereafter.

Despite finishing Spa 24 Hours at the 16-hour mark due to a mechanical issue, British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole came away from his weekend in the Aston Martin Racing-run V12 Vantage GT3 with an impressive run of lap times and a triple night-time stint that saw them rise to 16th.

The 27-year old from Surrey arrived at the second of his three 2014 24-hour races with confidence high. Just two weeks earlier he impressed at the British GT Championship round held at the 7km long Spa-Francorchamps circuit, setting the fastest lap of the two one-hour races.

Now back at the track, Onslow-Cole began the first of two qualifying sessions for Spa 24 Hours in the PGF-Kinfaun V12 Vantage GT3, with his sights set on the top-20 SuperPole shoot-out.

“The top 20 cars go into the SuperPole shootout and that’s where I wanted to be,” commented Onslow-Cole. “In the pre-qualifying session I was up in the top 20 and I felt like there was more to come ahead of qualifying.

“With 62 cars and 220 drivers it was always going to be difficult to get a clear run in qualifying. Although we improved by over a second, the traffic was enough to cost us those vital tenths to see us through into the top 20. Still, it’s a 24 hour race so 31st could still lead us to a strong result.”

On Saturday, the GT3 cars lined up on the grid and at 16.30 the green flag waved for the start of the race. Onslow-Cole started a stint that saw him fighting for places in the busy and highly-competitive field of the top GT drivers in the world.

“The first stint was crazy,” commented the Milltek-Sport sponsored driver. “Drivers were willing to put everything on the line for some very small gains. For me the objective quickly became survival and making sure I handed the car over fit to take on the next 23 hours.”

After just over an hour, Onslow-Cole handed the V12 machine over to regular team-mate Paul White (GB), who, in turn, handed over to Phil Dryburgh (GB) and then John Gaw (GB).

After dinner and some sleep, Onslow-Cole prepared for his nighttime stint, which took place from midnight until 3am.

“I was pleased with my nighttime stint,” he continued. “I was consistently in the top-five lap times throughout the three hours and we even managed to double stint the Pirelli tyres, something I believe the other teams were struggling to do.”

Having made up several positions, Onslow-Cole completed his three-hour stint and handed over the Casio Edifice-liveried car to Paul White in 16th place and 10th in class.

After double stints from White and Dryburgh, Onslow-Cole was back in the car but, at around 08.00, the car lost drive and he was advised to turn off the engine and retire the car.

“If I could have got the car back to the garage, I know the Aston Martin Racing team could have got us back out but I was on the outside of turn one and there was no way I could make it all the way back around to the pit entry.

"All-in-all, it was a great experience and I'm pleased with my performance. I can't wait for Barcelona 24 Hours, now."

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole will participate in the TOTAL Spa 24 Hours in an Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 next weekend (26/27 July) following a successful outing at the track last weekend (12 July).In the fifth round of the British GT Championship held at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Onslow-Cole – in the Milltek-Sport-liveried Strata21 V12 Vantage GT3 – recorded the fastest time of the two one-hour races in just his third race lap of the 7km-long track.

He will now contest the centerpiece of the Blancpain GT Series, the TOTAL Spa 24 Hours, in the PGF-Kinfaun Vantage GT3 alongside John Gaw (GB), Phil Dryburgh (GB) and regular team-mate Paul White (GB).

Spa 24 Hours is considered one of the top endurance races in the world and this year it boasts a grid of works teams and drivers from Aston Martin, Bentley, Nissan, Audi and Mercedes, as well as the top customer teams competing in BMWs and Porsches.

“The grid is extremely competitive and this is probably one of the biggest races of my career so far - the pressure is on,” he comments. “After a successful weekend at British GT, I’m confident the pace is there, but making it through a 24 hour race is a totally different challenge, one I’m ready to take on with my team-mates."

The team will contest the Pro-Am class of the race and, although outweighed by the competition in their Pro to Am ratio, Onslow-Cole is hugely positive about this opportunity.

“Phil and Paul are both safe hands and are among the top Am drivers in the UK," he adds. "Paul is extremely experienced in endurance racing and that will be invaluable during the 24-hour race.

“John is a fantastic team-mate for me to have – he’s really quick on-track and his strategic expertise is something I’m looking to absorb.”

Although racing together at Spa 24 Hours, Onslow-Cole and Gaw are in rival teams in this season’s British GT Championship. But, it's not the first season the pair has raced against each other; they both contested the Renault Clio Cup together back in 2005, the year before Tom won the championship by a record-breaking 119 points aged 19.

“It’s great to be in the same car as Tom at Spa 24 Hours,” commented Gaw. “He’s done a great job in British GT so far this year and had an impressive run at Spa last weekend. We drove together in Britcar last year alongside Paul and made a strong team, so I’m sure we’re going to have a good weekend.”

The TOTAL Spa 24 Hours starts on Saturday 26 July at 16.30 local time.

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole made his Spa-Francorchamps racing debut this weekend (12 July) - in the fifth round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship - and recorded the fastest lap of the two races in his Strata21 Milltek Sport-liveried Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3.

An impressive grid of 36 cars, including seven identical Aston Martin GT3s, the Blancpain GT Series championship-leading M-Sport Bentley, a trio of AF Corse Ferraris and the British GT Championship-leading BMW, started race one in mixed conditions that were typical of the Belgian circuit.

The damp track and drizzle in the air made all but a few of the teams head out on wet tyres. However, after completing the first of two formation laps, they pitted to change to slicks.

“It was a tricky call,” commented Onslow-Cole. “We, like almost all the other teams, decided to play it safe and go out on wets but the track dried so quickly that we took advantage of the extra formation lap and made the change. It reordered all the cars but it was the right choice for us to make.”

Onslow-Cole’s British GT Championship partner, experienced endurance racing driver Paul White (GB), started the race before handing over after 30-minutes.

On his third lap – lap 14 of the race – Onslow-Cole recorded a 2:22.9, the fastest lap of the race and a time that was unbeaten across two-hours of racing.

“I had great stint, the car was a pleasure to drive," commented Onslow-Cole. "During the 12-lap run I was able to take more than 20 seconds out of the lead car and set the fastest lap along the way.”

In race two, Onslow-Cole started the race from fourth, thanks to a strong qualifying the day before. A good first run into Eau Rouge saw the 27-year old climb up to third and he and the two race leaders broke away from the rest of the pack before a safety car was deployed.

“Alexander [Simms], Wolfgang [Reip] and I all started to pull away and, before the safety car, I had a 15-second lead over fourth place. By this point, Toni [Vilander] in the AF Corse Ferrari was behind me and the safety car bunched us up again.”

At the restart, Onslow-Cole wasted no time in escaping the threat of Ferrari works driver Vilander and, by the pit stop five laps later, he had more than a four-second advantage.

White took over and a slightly prolonged pit stop lost the team’s third place position. A safety car for most of the session denied White the chance to regain the places and the team crossed the line in sixth.

“It was a shame about the safety car as I think the gap we had would have given Paul an easy run to the podium, but, hey, that’s how it goes,” concludes Onslow-Cole.

“The competition here is really strong – the championship is boasting some of the top GT drivers in the world and I’ve enjoyed every second of racing them around this awesome circuit.

"Our finishing positions could have been higher but on a personal note I’m very pleased with my performance and both Paul and I are confident going to Brands Hatch – it’s my favourite track in the UK and one I believe really suits the Aston Martin."

With two rounds of the championship remaining, Strata21 are in eighth place in the championship, with White sitting in sixth in the Blancpain Gentlemen’s Trophy.

The penultimate round of the championship takes place on 30/31 August at Brands Hatch GP circuit in Kent, UK. More information and tickets can be found HERE.

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole took part in the Official Blancpain Spa 24 Hours Test this week (2 July) in preparation for the Spa-Francorchamps round of the British GT Championship next weekend (12 July).

Although not currently due to take part in the 24-hour Blancpain endurance race at the end of this month (26/27 July), Onslow-Cole took the chance to test the Strata21 V12 Vantage GT3 on the 7km-long circuit in Belgium, ahead of the fifth round of the British GT Championship.

“Aston Martin Racing asked us if we wanted to join them at the Spa 24 Hours test and we jumped at the chance,” commented Milltek Sport-sponsored Onslow-Cole. “I’ve driven at Spa before, but only for a couple of laps and not in the Vantage GT3 so it was great to get some real testing in before we race there next weekend.”

Onslow-Cole’s British GT Championship team-mate, Paul White (GB) couldn’t attend the test session due to business commitments, leaving the Buckinghamshire-based 27-year old alone to work on the best set-up for the 6.0-litre V12 Aston Martin still in the Bilstein livery from its recent Nürburgring 24 Hour exploit.

“The car ran perfectly and it enabled us to really work on the best set up for the upcoming race weekend,” he added. “Spa is a fast and flowing circuit that requires a delicate balance in the set-up. Too much aero stalls you down the straights but not enough can see your cornering speeds drop.

“Spa is a fantastic circuit that I’ve often dreamed of racing at so I can’t wait for the weekend to begin.”

In addition to Spa-Francorchamps, Onslow-Cole has added several tracks to his completed circuits list already this year, and has finished on the podium at all five of his International races.

“I’ve been contesting the 24 Hour Series, the Spanish GT Championship and various VdeV rounds this year in a bid to extend the list of circuits in my repertoire. I took second in class at Dubai 24 Hours at the start of the year; second place overall at Mugello, Barcelona and Navarra; third place at Dijon; and I’ll be racing at Paul Ricard in a few months.

“I have 22 endurance and GT races in total this year, so my switch to the discipline really has been a baptism of fire.”

Onslow-Cole made the switch from the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) to GT racing at the start of 2014 following a crossover year in 2013. The driver, who is a face of the premium watch brand Casio Edifice, has been pleased with how he has adapted.

“I couldn’t have hoped for things to have gone much better,” he concludes. “The British GT Championship is very competitive this year, so to get on the podium in my third BGT race in the Aston Martin felt good – in fact, we’ve scored points in every race we have done in the car. I’ve been bitten by the GT bug and I’m looking forward to taking on more challenges.”

The British GT Championship Spa round comprises two one-hour races on Saturday 12 July with qualifying taking place the day before. Entrance to the circuit is free all weekend with paddock passes available for €10.

Tom Onslow-Cole stood on the Avon Tyres British GT Championship podium this weekend (22 June) after he and team-mate Paul White finished in third place in race two of the Snetterton round.The race weekend comprised two one-hour races and, despite rain hampering the event in both 2012 and 2013, this year boasted blue skies allowing Onslow-Cole to get some valuable dry laps behind the wheel of his Milltek Sport-liveried Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3.

The pair enjoyed laying down some good lap times and confidence was high, however, a small ABS niggle became apparent in the second free practice session and it was too late to rectify it before the qualifying sessions began.

“Something didn’t feel quite right in free practice two," commented Onslow-Cole. “When you really leaned on the car to squeeze the last few tenths from it, the rear wheels were snatching and locking up. We tried some fixes ahead of qualifying but unfortunately didn’t manage to get it sorted. As Paul was first to qualify I think it affected him more than me as he ventured into the unknown.”

Despite the issue, White qualified the car in 14th place for the first race of the weekend - good enough for the pair to set its sights on a top ten finish to collect valuable points - and Onslow-Cole still managed to qualify the #21 car in fifth place for race two.

“Qualifying is difficult on these tyres,” he added. “You have a very small window to get the best lap out of them. I was happy with fifth, as I knew we could do something with that. Most importantly, I feel like I’m getting closer to nailing it.”

The Aston Martin Racing team set to work and, the following day, with the ABS issue sorted, Onslow-Cole went fastest in the morning's warm-session.

"The team did a great job to resolve the issue and in the morning the car felt amazing. I had a real confidence in the car and the team and we started the day in a great place."

A couple of hours later, White started race one in 14th and held the position until Onslow-Cole took over after 30-minutes. Exiting the pits in 12th place, the Casio Edifice-sponsored driver set about attacking the field ahead and, after some stunning on-track passes, he crossed the finish line in 10th place, later earning two more spots after cars ahead were penalised.

Race two, however, was the Strata21 team’s chance to get on the podium. Starting the race from fifth, Onslow-Cole stayed close to the car in front and the pack of five pulled away from the rest of the field. Half-way through the one-hour race, he pitted and White rejoined the field in fourth.

With the team’s first podium in sight, White hunted down the Audi in front, doing a incredible job to pass it and bring the car home in third place.

“The boys from Aston Martin Racing team helped us to gain valuable places in both of the pit stops, which they nailed,” added Onslow-Cole. “And, Paul did exactly what he needed to do to bring the car home in a podium position. To be stood there with a bottle of Champagne each at only our third British GT race in the Aston Martin and in my first season in GT racing felt pretty special. I think it’s the first of many more to come.”

Onslow-Cole next races this weekend (29 June) in the French VdeV series in Dijon in the Mosler MT900 GT3 with Escuela Española de Pilotos.

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole is returning to the track that he first drove a GT car at, Snetterton Circuit, this weekend (21/22 June) for the fourth round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship.

The ex-British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) race-winner was invited to Snetterton in April 2013 to test the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 and he never looked back. This season, he made the move into GT racing and is contesting the British GT Championship with Strata21 team-mate Paul White (GB) in an identical car.

“Snetterton is where I first drove the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 and it got me hooked on GT racing,” commented Onslow-Cole, who is also contesting the Spanish GT Championship and various VdeV rounds in a Mosler MT900 GT3.

“Even though I’ve only raced in the Vantage three times, my stint times have been right at the sharp end and I’m pleased with my progress,” he continued. “Qualifying, however, is still an area that I need to unlock. “

In order to improve, the team completed some qualifying simulation laps at Snetterton at the end of last month and Onslow-Cole believes that there is a very small window in which the tyres are at their peak.

“The Avon Tyres have a real peak in them very early on so it’s important that I nail that lap. At Snetterton there are plenty of opportunities to overtake so qualifying is not as important other tracks in the championship such as Oulton Park, but, on the other hand, we’re back down to one-hour races this weekend so I’ll only be doing 30-minute stints.”

Snetterton Circuit is well known for being one of the faster circuits in the UK and is where Onslow-Cole took his first BTCC win back in 2007.

“It’s a fast track and it will really suit the Vantage GT3, which has an impressive straight-line speed. I’ve really been bitten by the GT bug and I can’t wait for this weekend.”

Fan-favourite Onslow-Cole took his Milltek Sport-liveried Vantage GT3 into Central London last weekend (14 June) and displayed it outside of Casio’s flagship store in Covent Garden.

“I’m a face of Casio Edifice watches and it’s great to be able to use my profile to get the GT3 in front of a new audience,” commented Onslow-Cole. “GT racing is exciting, the strategy is interesting and the cars look awesome, which explains why the audience figures are growing so quickly. It’s definitely the place to be right now.”

More information about the Snetterton round of the British GT Championship can be found at: www.snetterton.co.uk

Tom Onslow-Cole finished the third round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship – Silverstone 500 – just inside the top 10 in the Milltek-Sport and Casio Edifice-liveried Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3, yesterday (1 June).

The 27-year old from London went fastest in free practice two, putting the team in a confident place going into qualifying. He and his Strata21 team-mate Paul White (GB) both completed their 20-minute qualifying session and with the time combined, started the race from 10th on the grid the following day.

White started the race well but was squeezed out on turn one to lose several positions amid the 38 GT cars on track. He remained composed and fought back but a safety car was deployed after 35 minutes of racing and the Aston Martin Racing team decided to pit early from fifteenth place.

Onslow-Cole took over the Vantage and returned to the race in sixteenth place. He took no time in settling in and recorded the fastest lap of the race within three laps.

“My first stint was really good,” commented Onslow-Cole. “I got released into some good space and was able to put in not only a quick lap but what I feel was a fast stint overall.”

Passing several cars, Onslow-Cole ran the V12-machine as high as sixth, but after the pit stops rearranged the group, White took over and continued the race in tenth, where he put in some consistently solid laps to maintain the position.

Now in eleventh place, Onslow-Cole jumped in for the final stint of the three-hour race with his sights set firmly on the top 10. He began his assault and quickly passed the tenth place car before completing a ‘stop and go’ penalty for an early release from pits, just three-tenths of a second short of the allowed minimum time.Onslow-Cole returned to the race in tenth but now with the BMW Z4 in eleventh place hot on his heels. Despite passing Onslow-Cole, the BMW took a spin leaving the Strata21 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 to cross the line in tenth.

“For only our second British GT race in the Aston Martin, I’m pleased with a top ten result,” he continues. “It’s not quite the result we had a Rockingham but things haven’t gone our way this weekend. The Strata21 team has done an outstanding job and I’m confident we can get back to where we were, and even beyond, at the next round. We had a new engineering team, who did a great job, but it always takes a few races to bed things in. It’s a very competitive championship – last year ten teams went into the final in contention for the title and we hope that this year, we can be battling it out among them.”

Tom next races in the British GT Championship at Snetterton on 21 June 2014.

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British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole and his Strata21 team-mate Paul White (GB) have been preparing for the third round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship – the Silverstone 500 – which takes place this weekend (31 May – 1 June), with a test session in the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 at Snetterton last Friday (23 May).

The Strata21 duo raced the 6.0-litre V12 Aston Martin at the second round of the championship at Rockingham three weeks ago and placed highest of the seven identical cars on the 36-car grid and fourth overall.

Despite this success, they are keen to get more time behind the wheel ahead of the 'jewel-in-the-crown' of the British GT Championship calendar, the three-hour race on the Silverstone GP circuit.

"I've only raced the V12 Vantage GT3 twice – once in Britcar at Brands Hatch last year and then at Rockingham last month," explains Onslow-Cole. "Therefore, seat time in the car is really important. Silverstone is a track that really suits the Vantage – it set pole and won here in Blancpain [Endurance Series] last year – so I want us to go there and take it to the competition."

The pair took the Milltek Sport and Casio Edifice-liveried car to Snetterton on Friday and completed 200-kms, including some qualifying lap simulations, in preparation for this weekend's race.

"Testing went really well," continues Tom. "I've been talking to the engineers at Avon Tyres, as I think understanding the tyre is key in this championship.

"Paul is a fantastic team-mate on and off track and we are really gelling. He is itching to get back onto the Silverstone GP circuit following his FIA World Endurance Championship outing there in the Vantage GTE in August 2012.

"Although I've raced at Silverstone many times, the GP circuit is new to me so I've spent some time on the simulator at iZone in preparation."

The Silverstone GP circuit is one of the faster races in the championship's seven round calendar. The GP configuration has a series of long straights and fast-flowing corners with plenty of space for overtaking, making it an extremely exciting race. It is also the longest race in the calendar, which is appealing to both Onslow-Cole and White.

"The longer the race, the more important strategy becomes, and that's something that I've really enjoyed with my switch to GT racing. My Strata21 team-mates and I are also contesting the 24H Series, which is made up of 12-and 24-hour long races with our next race being the 24 Hours of Barcelona.

"So far, the season has been a huge learning curve but I'm confident we have got through the steepest part. For sure, there's still lot to master but we'll arrive at Silverstone in our best shape yet and hunting a place on the podium."

To progress even faster on this learning curve, Tom is contesting the 2014 Spanish GT Championship and selected VdeV rounds with Española de Pilotos in its Mosler MT-900 GT3. Last weekend he finished second in the Spanish GT Championship and, although it was only the second time Onslow-Cole had driven the 7.0-litre V8 machine, he was at ease with it and quickly learned the 4.65-km Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona.

"My switch to GT racing has gone really well so far, but it's important that I get as many hours behind the wheel of a GT car as I can in order to progress as quickly and effectively as possible," he continues. "Not only to learn the cars but to become more comfortable with driver changes and, of course, to learn some more tracks outside of the UK.

"I'm pleased with my progress and I'm looking forward to getting back in the V12 Vantage GT3 at Silverstone next weekend."

The Silverstone 500 starts at 14:15 on Sunday 1 June. Fans in the UK can watch the race live on MotorsTV, which is now available subscription free on channel 240. Highlights of the event will be televised on Channel 4 and BT Sport.

At the second round of the Spanish GT Championship this weekend (17-18 May) British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole finished in second place for team Escuela Española de Pilotos in its Mosler MT-900 GT3.Not only did the 27-year old from Surrey qualify on pole, 2.4 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, but, at the green flag, he stormed off like a raging matador to take a 60-second lead over the competition ahead of handing over to his teammate, Alberto de Martin (ES).“It was good to be back in the Mosler,” comments Onslow-Cole. “It’s a really raw racing car and it takes some taming but it’s a lot of fun, too. Qualifying went brilliantly, with 58 cars out on circuit it was all about finding space and making the lap count.”Despite pitting with a good lead, a lengthy fuel stop reduced the gap and left de Martin open to attack from the Española de Pilotos sister-car behind. After several laps, de Martin was passed and the team took second place for the second race in a row.“It was disappointing not to win following our great start to the race but Alberto did a great job all weekend. We’re a new pairing up against some long-standing duos so I think the best is yet to come from us!”Although it was only the second time Onslow-Cole had driven the 7.0-litre V8 Mosler, he was at ease with the machine and quickly learned the 4.65-km Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona.

“My switch to GT racing has gone really well so far, but it’s important that I get as many hours behind the wheel of a GT car as I can in order to progress as quickly and effectively as possible,” he continues. “Not only to learn the cars but to become more comfortable with driver changes and, of course, to learn some more tracks outside of the UK.“I’m pleased with my progress and I’m looking forward to getting back in the V12 Vantage GT3 at Silverstone next weekend for the third round of the British GT Championship.”

Onslow-Cole impressed in his first British GT Championship in the Aston Martin, finishing in fourth overall and beating all six of the identical Vantage GT3s on track. The next round takes place at Silverstone on 31 May. Tom’s next outing with Escuela Española de Pilotos is in the French GT series V de V on 26 June at Circuit Dijon Prenois.

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole impressed in his first British GT Championship race in the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 as he and Strata 21 team-mate Paul White finished fourth overall, the highest ranking Vantage in the race at Rockingham Motor Speedway this weekend (4/5 May).

The Strata21 team decided just one week ago to field its V12 Vantage GT3 in this weekend’s two-hour race. Despite having only completed a handful of practice laps ahead of yesterday’s qualifying session, Onslow-Cole recorded the ninth fastest lap and, when combined with team-mate White’s time, the #21 car started from 14th on the grid.

White started the race and picked off the competition one by one, entering the pits in ninth place an hour later. An issue in the pit stop cost the team three positions and Onslow-Cole exited in 12th.

Despite the set-back, Onslow-Cole went for the immediate attack, passing the identical cars of MP Motorsport and Beechdean AMR on the way to fourth place, the highest finishing position of the seven Aston Martin GT3s in the race. Onslow-Cole also recorded the fastest lap time of the Aston Martins and the second fastest lap overall.

“I don’t think Rockingham plays to the strengths of the Vantage as well as the upcoming venues, so to come away so close to the podium is a great result,” comments Onslow-Cole. “I really enjoyed driving and, although our pace was good, I’m confident there is still more to come. I’m looking forward to some more seat time ahead of the next round.“

Onslow-Cole and White will contest the remainder of the British GT Championship in the Vantage GT3.

“We have been very impressed with Aston Martin Racing this weekend,” comments White. “It was a last minute decision to use the Vantage GT3 as the team had worked hard to get it ready ahead of schedule. Tom and I both gave it our all this weekend and it paid off. We’re looking forward to getting to Silverstone at the end of the month.”

The Strata21 team next races in the third round of the British GT Championship at Silverstone on 31 May.

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole made his British GT Championship debut this weekend alongside experienced amateur driver Paul White and, by the end of the weekend, the Strata21 team was battling it out in the top ten of the 36-strong grid.The 2014 season-opener took place at Oulton Park - a twisty, undulating circuit that provided a unique challenge in the calendar for the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 - and, in Saturday’s qualifying, the team struggled to match the pace of the competition.

However, Milltek Sport and Casio Edifice-sponsored Onslow-Cole and the Strata21 team were quick to identify the issues and, by Monday’s warm up session, improvements had been made. In the 10-minute warm up session Onslow-Cole was fifth fastest on track.

White started race one and completed his 30-minutes in the car before handing over to Onslow-Cole. The safety car worked against them and a stop-go penalty for premature pit lane release put an end to any real race success.

In race two, Onslow-Cole started and stays hot on the heels of the Bentley, Porsche and Aston Martin in the pack ahead. A measured call on the pit stop, following a safety car, jumped the Strata21 Nissan up the pack and into the top ten. At the end of the 60-minute race, White crossed the finish line in ninth.

Despite a 20-second penalty, for a move by White, that subsequently demoted the team to 16th, Onslow-Cole was pleased with the progress made.

“The Nissan GT3 has great high speed performance but we struggled on the tighter, bumpy parts of the Oulton Park circuit this weekend,” explains Onslow-Cole. “We’ve not had much testing time but we've learnt a huge amount through the weekend."

“We worked hard on Saturday evening to look at ways to improve set-up and adjust to the circuits features. The team did a great job to give us a very different car on Monday morning. We’ve still got a long way to go but we’re moving in the right direction.”

Tom Onslow-Cole and Paul White will make their competitive debut in the JRM factory-supported Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 this weekend (19-21 April), after Strata21 secured a last-minute entry in the sell-out opening round of the Avon British GT Championship (BGT) at Oulton Park.

The team put in a late entry to the BGT championship, following the conclusion of a deal that pieced Onslow-Cole together with White and Strata21 and, despite getting an entry into the 36-competitor-strong championship, the smaller grid capacity at Oulton Park left the team without a slot for the season-opener.

However, the team was told yesterday, by event organisers SRO, that a space had become available.

“We’re delighted that we’ve got the entry,” comments Milltek Sport and Casio Edifice-sponsored Onslow-Cole. “Of course, we were looking forward to the races we had got confirmed but this makes it a whole lot sweeter. What was a collection of races in the BGT Championship, has now become a full championship campaign, and that’s exciting.”

Although the team is pleased to be on the grid, the last-minute entry does mean that Onslow-Cole and team-mate White have had little time behind the wheel of the 3.8-litre V6 twin-turbo machine.

“I’d say we’ve done about 500kms between us in the Nissan,” explains White. “It’s not going to be easy to be on the pace of some of the other pairings, who have been in their cars for a couple of years, but the Nissan has, so far, been easy to learn. Mastering it will take seat-time but, with our newly secured entry, we have a whole load more of that to look forward to this weekend.”

Qualifying takes place at 16.20 on Saturday 19 April with the first one-hour race starting at 11.15 and the second one-hour race starting at 15.45, both on Easter Monday.

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole has added the Spanish GT Championship (GT Campeonato de España) and selected rounds of the French VdeV series to his season’s racing, starting with the Circuito de Navarra this weekend (12/13 April).

The Milltek Sport and Casio Edifice-supported driver, who is also contesting this year’s British GT Championship in the Strata21 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, is looking to gain as much experience as he can behind the wheel of a GT machine, following his switch from the British Touring Car Championship.

So, when experienced endurance racer Javier Morcillo, who owns and runs the established Spanish GT team Escuela Española de Pilotos, approached Onslow-Cole and asked him to join the team and race its Mosler MT900, the answer was, an immediate, yes.

“This is a brilliant opportunity for me to gain a lot of seat time in a fast and challenging GT car,” comments Onslow-Cole. “The endurance race experience and the chance to cut my teeth on some new circuits won’t hurt either. With the addition of these championships I’m now looking at a 2014 racing calendar that takes me to 18 events throughout Europe and occasionally further. I couldn’t really ask for a better way to immerse myself into GT racing."

As well as his Strata21 British GT Championship campaign, Onslow-Cole will also continue to race in the 24 Hour Series with KPM Racing in the Milltek Sport Golf TDI, hoping to carry on the team's podium success from the 24 Hours of Dubai and 12 Hours of Mugello.

“Although the British GT Championship is my main focus for the year, I always give these other races and championships my all. I’m really looking forward to getting out to Spain this weekend and I hope I can deliver over and above what the team is looking for.”

Tom will drive the team’s VdeV race-winning Mosler MT900 in the Spanish GT Championship’s top class as the Pro driver alongside Am team-mate Alberto de Martin (ES). The pair will first race together at the first round of the championship at the Circuito de Navarra in Northern Spain this weekend.

“After working with Tom as a team-mate at Strata21, it is clear to me that he will do a great job in Spain for us,” comments Team Manager Morcillo who will be racing himself in the Britcar Endurance Series at Silverstone this weekend. “In Spanish GT we run the cars as Pro-Am, so he will be teamed up with a driver we are training. I hope they work well together and can put a good result for the team. We are looking forward to seeing Tom in our Mosler this weekend - I am sure he will love the car and hopefully the team!"

The Escuela Española de Pilotos team has been racing for 32 years and, in that time, it has won championships in Formula Ford, F3, Formula Fiat, Formula Toyota, classic cars, touring cars, GT and Porsche Cup. It competed in the Spanish GT Championship from 1998 to 2010, winning the GT4 class in the final two years. It then moved to the VdeV Championship, winning the GT4 class in 2011 and 2012.

“Escuela Española de Pilotos is a team with a real wealth of experience, which I hope to draw upon,” adds Tom. “I also think I can bring a lot to the team, so the relationship should work well.”

Tom will also join the team for selected rounds of the VdeV championship, which takes in circuits including Le Mans, Paul Ricard and Imola. These will be confirmed at a later date.

Tom Onslow-Cole and Paul White revealed the livery for Strata21’s 2014 JRM factory-supported Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 at the official media day today (8 April) and announced its 2014 partners, including premium brands Milltek Sport and Casio Edifice.

The design, using Milltek Sports’ red, white and black palette and striking K emblem, was created by StudioJQ and fits the ‘clean but mean’ brief given by the team while enhancing the partners’ positioning on the car.

“We wanted to make the livery clean and sharp to draw your eye to the sponsors’ branding” explains Onslow-Cole. “I think we’ve done that well, it stands out from the side of the track and will look clear and crisp on TV.”

Onslow-Cole has been a brand ambassador for Milltek Sport for three years and the British exhaust manufacturer has followed him from the British Touring Car Championship into the British GT Championship as part of their partnership.

“I’m very fortunate to have Milltek on board,” Onslow-Cole continues. “Their commitment to me in the British GT Championship is an extension of my brand ambassador role and is in addition to the endurance racing we have been undertaking in the Milltek Sport Golf this season.”

Milltek Sport is at the forefront of performance exhaust development and offers a comprehensive range of products for leading marques including Nissan.

“We are really pleased to be partnering with Tom in the British GT Championship,” comments Steve Pound, Managing Director at Milltek Sport. “The move into GT racing compliments the endurance events that we have been contesting together in our Milltek Sport Golf TDI and the races sit alongside the Milltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup, of which we have recently become title sponsor.”

Also following Onslow-Cole to the British GT Championship is watch manufacturer Casio. “I’ve partnered with Casio since 2008,” comments Onslow-Cole. “I’m an ambassador of the Edifice range, which is the motorsport-inspired timepiece collection. There has always been a strong connection between endurance racing and timekeeping and I’m proud to be bringing one of the world’s most famous watch brands into the British GT Championship.”

Edifice watches are the Casio analogue range, built with precision and engineering in mind. They are designed to meet motor racing vibration-resistance standards, they are equipped with Super Illuminator function to enhance visibility in low light environments and Smart Access function, which enables intuitive operation of multiple functions.

“We are delighted to continue to sponsor Tom” says Tim Gould, Head of Marketing for Casio. “It is really exciting to support Tom in this new venture, which is a really good fit for our Casio Edifice range”.

In addition, Rockstar Energy Drinks will continue to support Onslow-Cole in 2014 and Strata21 welcomes Grove and Dean as its insurance partner.

“GT racing is on the rise, not just in the UK but world-wide,” adds Onslow-Cole. “And, I’m excited to take my premium brand partners into this exciting new arena. With growing audiences, improved TV packages and new talent coming through, I think there is a very strong future for the championship and the discipline as a whole.

“I’d like to thank all of my partners for their support in this new chapter of my racing career. I look forward to the new challenges that lie ahead.”

As well as contesting the British GT Championship, Onslow-Cole will race in the 24 Hours of Barcelona and the 12 Hours of Hungaroring in the Milltek Sport Golf TDI run by KPM Racing.

The Strata21 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, which will be run by JRM-supported team JMH Automotive, will take part in this afternoon’s test session at Donington Park.

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole (GB) and experienced AM driver Paul White (GB) will contest the 2014 Avon British GT Championship in a JRM factory-supported Nissan GT-R NISSMO GT3 run by JMH Automotive under the Strata21 banner.

The programme will form part of the duo’s wider GT racing campaign, which, at present, includes the 24 Hours of Barcelona and 12 Hours of Hungaroring and plans to take on other high-profile endurances races around the world.

The team came together at a test session at Snetterton yesterday and Onslow-Cole and White drove the 3.8-litre V6 twin-turbo Nissan NISMO GT-R NISSMO GT3 for the first time.

"The Nissan GT-R is one of the larger cars on the grid but you wouldn't know it when you're driving it," comments Onslow-Cole. "The high-speed aero is incredible and is definitely a strength of the car. After our first test, we're both feeling positive."

In addition to the Nissan GT3 charger they will use for the British GT Championship, the pair plans to make use of Strata21’s Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE and V12 Vantage GT3 as well as the Milltek/KPM Racing Golf, in which they took podium finishes at Dubai 24 Hours and the 12 Hours of Mugello earlier this year.

This season will mark Onslow-Cole’s full-time move into GT racing after a series of events in 2013, which he competed in alongside his seventh consecutive British Touring Car Championship season. White, who has raced in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Aston Martin, will also make his British GT Championship debut.

Onslow-Cole explains: “The world of GT racing is something that is relatively new to me but it’s something that has really got me hooked. I’ve got a lot to learn this season, but we have put together a programme that will see us develop very well across the various endurance distances.

“So far this year we have had great results in our 24-H Series outings and that’s something I hope to carry on. The British GT Championship programme with the Nissan GT-R GT3 has got huge potential and I can’t wait to race alongside some of the quickest GT drivers in the UK.”

The British GT Championship is going from strength-to-strength, with bumper grids, growing spectator figures and, from this season, free-to-view coverage on Motors TV.

“Endurance racing is where my heart lies – the 12- and 24-hour races – but, the British GT Championship is really appealing right now,” comments White. “There is a high level of competition and some really exciting racing, so we are looking forward to being a part of it.

“We will compliment our campaign with some bigger endurance races and we are always on the look out for exciting opportunities – Bathurst 12 Hours is definitely on my list.”

Although Onslow-Cole and White hope to make a full British GT Championship assault, the team is currently missing an entry to the first round at Oulton Park. They urge anyone who has an entry for sale to get in touch.

British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole (GB) will contest this year’s Avon British GT Championship alongside experienced AM driver Paul White (GB), following successful outings together in endurance events around the world.

Onslow-Cole, who is best known for his exploits in the British Touring Car Championship, announced last month that he was looking for new avenues, in particular in the GT arena. The British GT deal, details of which will be announced soon, comes as part of a wider campaign that will see him step onto the European and world stages.

“I really feel that the time is right for me to go and explore GT racing, it’s got huge appeal right now and I don’t think this move will come as a shock to many. Paul [White] and I have already competed in some endurance racing events together and we have proved to be a really strong pairing with podium finishes across Britcar at Brands Hatch, the 24 Hours of Dubai and the 12 Hours of Mugello.”

The pair, which hopes to contest the whole British GT Championship, is currently missing an entry to the opening round at Oulton Park.

“It’s a shame not to have an entry to the opening round, as it would be good to contest the whole championship,” comments White. “If anyone has an entry and doesn’t think they’ll be able to use it, they should definitely get in touch as we are currently finalising our plans.

“The full grid is testament to the fact that the British GT Championship is on the rise. It is very competitive and there are some teams that have been running in it a few years but I think Tom and I are a solid pairing with lots of potential - we both look forward to taking on the challenge.”